Airlines defend seating policies

STEWART AIRPORT — The airlines serving Stewart International Airport say it should not be difficult for families with small children to sit together on flights.

Michael Randall

STEWART AIRPORT — The airlines serving Stewart International Airport say it should not be difficult for families with small children to sit together on flights.

The airlines were responding to concerns raised over the weekend by Sen. Chuck Schumer about several airlines that now charge extra for premium seats such as aisle or window seats, and those with extra leg room.

Schumer said he's concerned these new pricing methods could force families to have to pay $25 or more per seat in additional charges for aisle and window seats in order to sit together, or to fly with children out of the direct sight of their parents.

Delta, which flies to Detroit and Atlanta from Stewart, only reserves a handful of aisle and window seats in its economy sections, spokesman Morgan Durrant said. They are offered at no extra charge to frequent fliers 24 hours before departure, and then to others for an extra $9 to $29 depending on the length of the flight.

But all remaining seats in economy, as well all other seats on all flights, are available to all at no extra charge, he said.

U.S. Airways, which flies four times daily to Philadelphia from Stewart, reserves some of its window and aisle seats in coach, rather than economy, for the same purpose, but spokesman Andrew Christie said the "grand majority" of their seats are open to all at the same price, including families flying together.

JetBlue spokeswoman Tamara Young said the airline, which flies daily from Stewart to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, does not charge extra for any aisle or window seats, only seats with extra leg room and other privileges, including early boarding and early access to overhead bins. And the airline makes every effort to seat families together, including asking for volunteers to switch their seats in some cases, she said.

Despite the assurances from airlines, Schumer is pressing for the industry to establish standards that would exempt families from having to pay extra to sit together. If that doesn't happen, he's asked Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to establish guidelines prohibiting the separation of parents and children under these new seat-pricing policies.